Razor-stropper.



C, E. CARPENTER.

RAZOR STROPPER. APPLlGATIN YILED MAB.. 23, 1911.

Patented Dec. l2, 3191 1.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

G.E.CARPBNTBR. RAZOR STROPPBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 23, 1911. 4 1,01 1,740. Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

` 3 sHEBTsfsHBET 2.

iff'

G. E* CARPENTER.

RAZOR STROPPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1911.

Paented Dec. 12, 19H.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 34 entre satana narnia cerca.

CHARLES E. CRPENTEROF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 CLINTGN A. STAFFQRCD, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINGIS.

RAZOR-STROPPEB..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten nee. as, 1e11. serial No. @16,352.

Application iled March 23, 1911.

This invention relates to a device for stropping the blades of either ordinary or safety razors, and is of that general type which makes use of a single honing surface. It is intended toproduce a device into which the razor blade may be inserted, after which the complete honing operation may be performed by merely turning a crank or other similar mechanism, the device automatically reversing the blade each time a stroke is completed, so that both sides of `the cutting edge will be equally honed.

bjects of the present invention are,- to provide a razor stropper having a single honing surface; to carry the razor blade in such way that both sides of the cutting edge will be alternately presented to the honing surface; and to support the razor blade and the honing surface flexibly with respect to each other, so that the blade will beheld against the surface at all times withv proper and sufficient pressure; to so arrange the parts that the honing surface may be'quickly removed for replacement or repair; to so arrange the parts that the honing surface will be kept in the best condition at all times; and in other Ways and manners' to generally imrove the form of such a device.

ther objects andA uses will appear from a detailed description of the invention which consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure l shows an end elevation of the `preferred form of device, a connecting rod mechanism being used for securing the necessary reveri sal of blade movement at the end of each stroke; Fig. 2 shows a. plan View of the device of Fig. l, the honing belt being unhooked from one side so as to expose the drum and rollers beneath, and a portion of the base being cut away; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the device of F ig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a cross section through the device of Fig. l, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5

shows a view similar to Fig. 4, the-drum being rotated part way around so as to bring the razor blade into contact wlth the strop-l ping surface Fig, 6l shows a modified form of gearing for producing the oscillatory movement of the drum, in order to reverse the razor blade at the end of each stroke; Fig. 7 shows a partial cross section of a modied form of razor holder and carriage, the parts occupying the same position as that illustrated in Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 shows aside view of this modified form of razor holder in a position similar to that of the razor holder shown in Fig. 5.

In the embodime t of my invention, I provide a rotary drnm in which is mounted a razor blade holder, and around the periphery of which are placed a number of rollers. 'A honing surface, such as a belt, is ilexibly mounted in a suitable 4framework and passes over said rollers, and the razor blade holder is so formed that as the drum is oscillated back' and forth the edge of the blade will have itsv two sides alternately presented to the honing surface. then provided for and forth in order operation.

oscillating the drum back to carry on the stropping Means are vReferring now to the drawings, the frame l of the.device comprises a base 7, having one side upturned to provide an end wall 8. A

.shouldered bearing member 9 is passed through the end wall, and secured rigidly in position as by means of a nut l0. This a'ring member extends the entire length of the drum, terminating at the point 11. A shaft .12 extends through the bearing member, its-inner end being shouldered at 13 to receive a pinion 14, which is held rigidly in place ,by means of a nut 15. The central portion 16 of the shaft is preferably of smaller diameter than its ends 12 and 17 so as to reduce as much as possiblethe friction of operation.

The oscillatable member or drum, as it may be called, comprises a pair of end plates 18 and 19, secured to a flanged cylinder 20, as by means of rivets 21. The end plate 18 finds a bearing on the inner end of the bearl ing member 9, the latter being provided with a collar 22 to prevent the drum from pullin oil' endwise. This collar 22 will be describe more in detail hereafter. The end plate 19 nds a bearing on the end portion' 17 of the' shaft. Tt is rigidly secured to the shaft in any suitable manner, the construction shown comprising acollar 23' secured to the shaft by a set screw 24, and to the end plate 19 by' a set screw 25. Ubviously, rotation of the pinion will cause the shaft to rotate and this in turn will rotate the drum.

The razor carriage comprises a pairV of end arms 26 and 27, secured'together as by a bar 28. 1n the construction shown, the arms and the bar are formed integral. The arms are pivoted to the end plates 18 and 19 by means of screws 29, so that the carriage, as a whole, may swing back and forth on these screws. The razor blade proper is carried in a spring holder 3() which is pivoted at 31 and 32 in the arms 26 and 27 respectively.

The oscillatable drum is provided around its periphery with a number of rollers 33, over which is passed a belt or other honing surface 341. Thek ends of the same may be provided with metal protectors 35, into which may be hooked springs 36, so that the strop is always held flexibly on the rollers of the drum. In the construction shown, the springs are hooked over rods 37, carried in a pan-shaped frame 33, which in turn is secured to the bottom Y of the frame proper. Referring particularly to Figs. -i and 5, it will be understood that as the drum oscil lates baclr and forth, the edge of a razor blade 39 is honed baclr and forth on the inner surface of the strop. Evidently, in case the drum were to rotate continuously in the same direction, only one side ofthe edge of the razor blade would be honed, so means should be provided for oscillating the drum back and forth, and said means should be of such formation that the reverse movement cannot occur until the carriage which carries ythe razor blade holder has been returned to the initial position shown in Fig. L1. 1n the position shown in Fig. 5, the drum is rotating over in the direction of the arrow. Said movement should continue until the carriage has moved clear over into the position shown in Fig. d. Thereupon a reversal of movement should occur so as to hone the other side of the razor edge.

ln Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 show the preferred form of mechanism for securing this oscillatory movement of the drum'. A. segmental gear 40 is pivoted to the end 8 of the frame in position to mesh with the pinion of the shaft. A crank handle 41 rotates a crank shaft 42 which extends through the end 8, and carries a crank arm a3. The segmental gear is mounted on a. shaft at which likewise extends through the end wall and carries a crank arm 15. A. link 46 connects the two cranlr arms so that as the crank handle rotates continuously in the same direction, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, the segmental narrato gear will oscillate baclr and forth, thus causing the drum to oscillate back and forth, preferably a complete revolution in each direction.

Returning now to a consideration of the carriage which carries the razor holder, it will be remembered that the same is pivoted on the screws 29. This construction is desir-able for the following reason: The position of the razor blademust reverse at the end of each oscillation of the drum, it being shown as occupying only one position -in Fig. 5. lin order to insure safe operation, the edge of the razor blade should not approach too close to the roller 17. 1n like manner on the reverse stroke, the edge of the blade should not approach too close t0 the roller d8. 1n case the frame should always occup t such a position, as is shown in Fig. l1, that is on a radial line extending through the shaft 12, then it is evident that the rollers d? and 48 should be at a considerable distance apart and the strop would have to take an undesirably abrupt angle at the points where itpasses over these rollers. By pivoting the carriage which carries the razor blade holder, and providing means for automatically oscillating the same back and forth, as the drum oscillates, '1 am enabled to secure the necessary clearances without the necessity of placing the rollers L17 and 4:8 an undesirabledistance apart. 1n the construction which l have illustrated, .l provide a xed'cam 49 at each end of the drum, which 'is engaged by a finger 50 on the cor responding arm 26 or 27, as the case may be. When the oscillatable drum is in the normal position, shown in Fig. 4c, these fingers will fall into the recesses 51 of the cams. Then as the oscillatable drum starts to rotate in one direction or the other, the arms 26 and 27 will be thrown over in the direction of drum movemenh'so as to carry the razor blade away from the adjacent roller. This fact is Well illustrated in Figs. d and 5, where the arm 27 has been thrown over in the direction of drum movement, so that the razor blade is carried away from the roller 47. 1n the particular construction illustrated, the cam at the pinion end of the drum yconstitutes the shoulder which holds the drum in position, so that this shoulder performs a double function. At the other end of the drum, however, a cam is specially formed on the bearing member 9.

W'hen. the stropper is in operation, it is understood that the drum will oscillate back and forth with a fair degree of rapidity. This being the case, there might exist a tendency for the carriage and razor blade holder to swing back and forth at the end of each stroke, thus tending to lock the fingers 50 against the sides of the notches 51 in the cams. in order to reduce such tendency to a minimum, l provide a spring 52 on the Longa() Stantaneously. restored to its normal posi-l tion at the end of each stroke, so that the locking tendency will be minimized. In order to hold the razor blade firmly, but exibly, against the strop, another spring 53 may be secured to the bar 28. This spring will engage thevrazor blade holder to hold the edge of the blade against the stro-p.

In Fig. 6, I illust-rate a modified form of mechanism for securing oscillatory movement of the drum, while the crank handle is rotated continuously. In this case, the pin- 1on`14 is mounted on the shaft 12 outside of the end wall 8, and a similar pinion 14a is mounted inside of the end wall. The crank shaft 42 carries the segmental gear 40 out side of the end wall, which segmental gear is adapted to mesh directly with the pinion 14. Inside of 'the end wall is provided anothersegmental gear 54 which is adapted to mesh with a pinion 55. An idler pinion 56 meshes with the pinion 55 and with the pinion of the shaft l2 which is underneath the end wall said pinion being numbered 14a. The segmental gears 40 and-54 also mesh alternately with the pinions 1,4 and 55, so that the drum is oscillated back and forth notwithstanding the continuous rotation of the crank handle 41.

The rollers 33 of may be made from any but preferably from lead or the like. I have discovered that lead vis excellently adapted tothe present use., because it keeps the strop in good condition 'as it rolls back and forth on the same. In 'other words, there is a peculiar relation between the lead rollers and a strop as used in a machine of this character, because the lead rollers perform a double function, in'that they guide the strop over the drum, and at t-he same time, keep the strop in good condition. In the construction illustrated and described, the razor holder 30 comprises a pair of flexible ears 57, drawn together by rivets 58.. VThe device is shown as being used with a safety razor blade 39. In this case, an auxiliary holder 59 should be provided, the same gripping the safety razor blade, and being inserted between the ears 57. 0f coursevwhenan ordinary razor isto be used, the back oflthe same would be inserted directly bet-Ween the ears 57.

In the particular construction illustrated, both of the arms 26 and 27 -are of equal lerlgth,meausred from the pivotal points 29 to the bearings 31 and 32. Inasmuch as the pivotal oints are equidistant from the shaft, it is evident that the razor blade will the oscillatory drum'-v suitable material,

be thrown'- back and forth on the strop with its edge always parallel to the shaft 12.- By making the arms of unequal length, sothat the distance as measuredl from the pivotal points to the bearings 3l and 32 are unequal, it is evident that the edge of the razorl blade will be thrown back and forth against the strop at opposite two sides of .the throw. The amount of this angle will be determined largely by the difference in lengths of the two arms.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I show a somewhat modiied construction of razor blade holder and carriage which has the effect of bringing the edge of the razor against the strop each time very closely approximates that of the hand honing operation, In this case, the razor blade holder 30 is provided with a. pairof slots 60 by means of which it may be clamped into the axle 61 'at any desired angle by means of screws 62. In Fig. 7, it is shown as tilted to. a maximum angle in one direction. In order to straighten out the razor blade holder so that it would lie horizontally, it wouldlonly be necessary loosen up the screws and then tilt the holder over. In Fig. 8, which is a side view of the holder when the carriage has been thrown lup into a position similar to that of Fig. 5, it is seen that the edge vof the razor blade 30 lies at an 4angle so that itwill be drawn across the belt at this angle during the entire half stroke.

I claim:

1. In a razor stropper, the combination of an oscillatable drum,'a honing belt, partly encircling the drum and having its ends flexibly supported', and means for supporting a razor'blade within the drum in a manner to present the faces of the same alternately to the honing belt, substantially as described.

2. In a razor stropper, the combination of an oscillatable drum, a honing belt partly encircling the same, means for flexibly sup# porting the ends of the same, means for oscillating the drum substantially a complete revolution in each direction, and means for supporting a razor blade within the drum in a manner to present the faces of the edge ofthe same alternately to the honing belt, substantially as described.

yof an oscillatable drum, a honing belt partly encircling the same, means for oscillating the drum, a carriage pivotally mounted within the drum, a razor'blade holder on the carriage, and means for shifting the carriage and razor blade holder back and forth to bringthe faces of the edge of the razor blade alternately in contact with the honing belt as the drum is oscillated, substantially as described.

4. In a razor stropper, the combination of angles to the same on the.

at an angle so that the honing operationv tol In a razor stropper, the' combination` substantially as described.

an oscillatable drum, a honing belt partly encircling the same, means for oscillating the drum substantially a complete revolution in each direction, a carriage pivotally mounted Within the drum, a razor blade holder on the carriage, and means for swinging the carriage back and forth in accordance with the oscillations of the drum to bring the faces of the edge of the razor blade alternately in contact with the honing belt and to draw the razor blade in the direction of movement of the drum with respect to the belt', substantially as described.

5. ln a razor stropper, the combination of an oscillatable drum, having a segmental opening in its periphery, a honing belt partly encircling the drum, means for osciln lating the drum back and forth substantially a complete revolution in each direction, a carriage pi otally mounted Within the segmental opening of the drum, a razor blade holder in the carriage, and means for swinging the carriage in accordance with the oscillations of they drum, to draw the razor blade with respect toAthe drum in the direction oimovement of the drum vvith respect to the honing belt, whereby the edge of the razor blade is carried awa-y from the adjacent edge of the segmental opening,

6. ln a razor stropper, the combination of an oscillatable drum, a plurality of rollers in the periphery of the same, a honing belt partly encircling the drum and engaging the rollers, means for oscillatingthe drum baclr and forth, the rollers being of a suitable masterial for properly dressing the honing surface of the belt, and means for suitably supporting the razor blade Within the drum in a suitable manner to engage the honing belt, substantially as described.

7. In a razor stropper, the combination of an oscillatable drum, means for suitably supporting a razor blade 'within the same, means for oscillatingthe drum back and forth, and a honing belt partly encircling the drum,

and having its end dexibly sup ported to maintain a suitable pressure on notar/io the drum and on the razor blade during the honing process, substantially as described.

8. In a razor stropper, the combination of a suitable framework, an oscillatable drum mounted on the same, means for supporting a razor blade Within the drum, a honing belt partly encircling the drum, and means for removably attaching the ends of the honing belt to the -rameworlr to permit the belt to be removed for replacement purposes, substantially as described. v

9. ln a-razor stropper, the combination of a suitable mounting for a razor blade, a honing belt for the razor blade, and means for guiding the belt over the mounting, to maintain the same in' proper relation to a razor blade, and formed of suitable material for dressing the honing belt as the mounting is moved with respect thereto, substantially as described.

10. ln a razor stropper, the Ycombination loit an oscillatable drum and a plurality of rollers Within the same, a carriage pivotally mounted Within the drum, a razor blade holder in the carriage, and means for adjusting the angle of the razor blade with respect to the carriage,- substantially as described.

11. ln a razor stropper, the combination of an -oscillatable drum, a carriage pivotally mounted 'Within the drum, a razor blade holder in the carriage, means `for adjusting the angle o' the razor blade holder with respect to the carriage, and means lor guiding a stropping belt over the drum, `substantially as described. i

` 12. ln a razor stropper, the combination of an oscillatable drum, a carriage piv'otally mounted ivithin the same, a cross rod Within the carriage, a razor blade holder, means for angularly positioning the saine on the cross rod, and means for guiding a honing belt over the drum, substantially as described.

GHARLES E.. CARPENTER.

Witnesses:

'lnoarae A. Banniere, Jr., Ennemi@ Banniere. 

